Suozzi, LiPetri clash on affordability, immigration in heated CD-3 debate
Affordability emerged as a central topic. Lipetri, a former state assemblyman, argued that reducing costs for residents starts with eliminating congestion pricing and addressing rising energy bills.
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U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and Republican challenger Mike LiPetri sparred over affordability, immigration and their records during a News 12 debate Tuesday, underscoring the high stakes in New York's 3rd Congressional District race.
The debate marked the second matchup between the candidates after Suozzi narrowly defeated LiPetri in 2024. With control of the U.S. House of Representatives potentially hanging in the balance, both candidates sought to draw sharp contrasts on issues affecting Long Island voters.
Affordability emerged as a central topic. LiPetri, a former state assemblyman, argued that reducing costs for residents starts with eliminating congestion pricing and addressing rising energy bills.
"What we have to look at is removing congestion pricing," LiPetri said. "We have electricity prices which have skyrocketed and those overhead costs pass on to the people."
Suozzi pointed to broader economic and foreign policy issues, calling for changes to U.S. trade policy and a reduction in overseas conflicts.
"You have to get out of some of these tariffs, especially the ones that are offending our allies that we need to bring closer to us," Suozzi said. "And we need to phase out of the Iran war."
Immigration and federal immigration enforcement sparked contentious exchanges.
Suozzi argued that immigration policies should avoid separating families.
"People don't want to break up families, take mothers away from fathers, parents away from their children," he said.
LiPetri accused the congressman of prioritizing undocumented immigrants over American citizens.
"My opponent's priority is helping illegal aliens rather than middle-class American citizens," LiPetri said.
The candidates also traded personal attacks and challenged each other's records in office.
"We have a congressman in the 3rd Congressional District selling us out so he can make money," LiPetri alleged.
Suozzi dismissed the accusation and defended his bipartisan record.
"I have one of the best bipartisan voting records in the entire United States Congress," Suozzi said. "You're just making stuff up."
